Surgical cutting and stapling device

Abstract

The present invention, in accordance with various embodiments thereof, relates to a surgical device for at least one of cutting and stapling a section of tissue. The surgical device includes a housing including at least two drivers. The surgical device also includes an anvil mechanically attachable to the housing and moveable relative to the housing between an open position and a closed position. The first driver operates to move the anvil relative to the housing to an intermediate position between the open position and the closed position. The second driver operates to move at least a portion of the housing relative to the anvil between the intermediate position and the closed position.

1 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A surgical device for at least one of cutting and stapling a section of tissue, comprising:
 a housing forming a first clamping surface;   an anvil mechanically attachable and moveable relative to the housing along an axis between an extended position and a retracted position, the anvil forming a second clamping surface,   wherein at least a portion of the first and second clamping surfaces are non-perpendicular relative to the axis.   
     
     
         29 . The surgical device of  claim 28 , wherein, when the anvil is in the closed position, the surgical device is configured to clamp a section of tissue between the first and second clamping faces. 
     
     
         30 . The surgical device of  claim 29 , wherein the first and second clamping faces are parallel relative to each other. 
     
     
         31 . The surgical device of  claim 30 , further comprising a first driver configured to move the anvil relative to the housing. 
     
     
         32 . The surgical device of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 a second driver,   wherein the housing includes a cutting element configured to be driven between a retracted position and an extended position by the second driver.   
     
     
         33 . The surgical device of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 a second driver,   wherein the housing includes a stapling element configured to be driven between a retracted position and an extended position by the second driver.   
     
     
         34 . The surgical device of  claim 28 , wherein the stapling element includes a staple cartridge. 
     
     
         35 . The surgical device of  claim 34 , wherein the staple cartridge defines the second clamping face. 
     
     
         36 . The surgical device of  claim 35 , wherein the staple element includes a staple pusher configured to push staples that are stored within respective slots of the staple cartridge out of the slots and against the anvil. 
     
     
         37 . The surgical device of  claim 36 , wherein the staple pusher includes at least two radially-spaced rows of staple pusher fingers, each row arranged at a different axial position. 
     
     
         38 . The surgical device of  claim 37 , wherein the slots of the staple cartridge define openings in the first clamping face, the openings being arranged in at least two radially-spaced rows aligned with the at least two radially-spaced rows of staple pusher fingers, each row of the openings being arranged at a different axial position. 
     
     
         39 . The surgical device of  claim 38 , wherein the second clamping face defines staple guides configured to close a staple, the staple guides being arranged in at least two radially-spaced rows aligned with the at least two radially-spaced rows of staple pusher fingers, each row of the staple guides being arranged at a different axial position. 
     
     
         40 . The surgical device of  claim 39 , wherein the first and second drivers are attachable to respective rotatable drive shafts, the rotatable drive shafts selectively rotated by at least one motor. 
     
     
         41 - 105 . (canceled)